center console MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 1997 Complete User Guide

93 Fog lamp switch
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Fog lamp switch (Canada only)
The switch is located in the center console.
Press down rocker switch symbols:
1Front fog lamps on (if so equipped). Green indicator
lamp ‡ in instrument cluster comes on.
Press upper half of the switch again to switch fog
lamps off. The green indicator lamp‡ in
instrument cluster goes out.2Rear fog lamp (driver’s side) in addition to front fog
lamps on. Yellow indicator lamp in switch comes on
in addition to green indicator lamp‡ in
instrument cluster.
Press lower half of the switch again to switch rear
fog lamp off. The yellow indicator lamp in switch
goes out.
When pressing upper half of the switch once with
front fog lamps and rear fog lamp on, first the rear
fog lamp is switched off. The yellow indicator lamp
in the switch goes out. Press upper half of the
switch again to switch off front fog lamps. The green
indicator lamp‡ in instrument cluster also goes
out.
Note:
Front fog lamps operate with the low beam headlamps
on. Consult your state Motor Vehicle Regulations
regarding allowable lamp operation.

103 Climate control
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Rear window defroster
The switch is located on the center console.
With the engine running, press upper half of the switch.
Indicator lamp in switch comes on.
To cancel, press upper half of the switch again. Indicator
lamp in switch goes out.Notes:
Heavy accumulation of snow and ice should be removed
before activating the defroster.
The rear window defroster consumes a large amount of
electrical power. To keep the battery drain to a
minimum, turn off the defroster as soon as the window
is clear.
The defroster is automatically turned off after
approximately 10 to 18 minutes of operation, dependent
on the outside temperature.
If several power consumers are turned on
simultaneously, or the battery is only partially charged,
it is possible that the rear window defroster will
automatically turn itself off. When this happens, the
indicator lamp inside the switch starts blinking for
approximately 30 seconds. If within this time the
battery has sufficient voltage, the rear window defroster
automatically turns itself back on.
After approximately 30 seconds without sufficient
voltage the rear window defroster switches off (indicator
lamp goes out).

104 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power w indows
Power window switches located on front center console
1left, front
2right, front
3left, rear
4right, rear
5Switch for rear door window overridePower window switches located on rear center console
6individual switches (rear doors)

105 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index The windows can be operated with key in steering lock
position 1 or 2.
Operation:
Press switch in to resistance point to open.
Lift switch to close.
Release switch when window is in desired position.Express opening of front door windows
Press switch past resistance point and release – window
lowers to fully open position. To interrupt procedure,
brief ly pull switch.
Blocking of rear door window operation
If no operation of the rear door windows by switch (6),
located on rear center console (for instance by children)
is desired, slide override switch (5) to right,
symbolN becomes visible.
Note:
After turning off the engine the power windows can be
operated for approximately 30 minutes or until a front
door is opened.
Wa r n i n g !
When closing the windows, be sure that there is no
danger of anyone being harmed by the closing
procedure.The closing procedure can be immediately reversed
by pressing the power window switch.When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of
vehicle equipment can cause serious personal
injury.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of
vehicle equipment can cause serious personal
injury.

106 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Rear quarter windows (optional on ML 320 and 430)
Switches located on front center console
The rear quarter windows can be operated with key in
steering lock position 1 or 2.
1Push to open.
2Push to close.Note:
After turning off the engine the rear quarter windows
can be operated for approximately 30 minutes or until a
front door is opened.
12
Wa r n i n g !
When closing the windows, be sure that there is no
danger of anyone being harmed by the closing
procedure.When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of
vehicle equipment can cause serious personal
injury.

117 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Cup holder in rear center console
To open cup holder (2), pull down at top of cover.
Caution!
Keep cup holder closed while traveling. Place only
containers that fit into the cup holder to prevent spills.
Do not fill containers to a height where the contents
could spill during vehicle maneuvers, especially hot
liquids.Armrest in rear bench seat
Pull down armrest (1) by its top.

118 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Ashtrays
Center console, front
By touching the top of the cover lightly, the ashtray
opens automatically.
To remove ashtray: Pull up and remove ashtray insert.Rear passenger compartment
Pull to open.
To remove ashtray:
Open ashtray (1) and pull out the ashtray insert.
Wa r n i n g !
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Turn off the engine and set the parking brake.
Otherwise the vehicle might move as a result of
unintended contact with the gear selector lever.

120 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Split rear seat bench
The rear seat bench can be moved fore / aft, folded and
lowered to increase the cargo area. The left, right or
both seat back sections may folded down according to
need.To slide rear seat bench fore / aft:
1. Pull lever (1) in direction of arrow, and slide seat
bench section to desired position until it locks in
place.
To enlarge cargo area:
1. Close cup holder in rear center console.
2. Move front seats forward, see page 39 for manual
seats and page 40 for power seats.
3. Pull lever (1) in direction of arrow, and slide seat
bench section forward.
4. Remove head restraint(s). The head restraint(s)
should be stored beneath the cargo f loor plates.

207 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index ESP control switch
ESP control switch located in center console.
To switch ESP off, press upper half of switch.
ESP warning lamp v, located in speedometer dial,
comes on.
To switch ESP on again, press lower half of switch.
ESP warning lamp v, located in speedometer dial,
goes out.To improve the vehicle’s traction when driving with
snow chains, or starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel,
or off-road driving, switch off ESP by pressing the upper
half of the ESP switch. The ESP warning lampv,
located in the speedometer dial, is continuously
illuminated.
With the ESP system switched off, the engine torque
reduction feature is cancelled. Therefore, the enhanced
vehicle stability offered by ESP is unavailable.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
A portion of the ESP system remains active, even with
the switch in the OFF position.
P54.25-2037-26
Wa r n i n g !
ESP should not be switched off during normal
driving other than in circumstances described
above. Disabling of the system will reduce vehicle
stability in standard driving maneuvers.
When the ESP warning lamp is illuminated
continuously, the ESP is switched off.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.

300 Index
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Index
AABS (Antilock brake system) ....................................... 201
LOW RANGE – ABS ..................................................202
Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................222
Adjustable steering wheel .............................................. 70
Indicator lamp ...........................................................222
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............................................268
Air conditioner refrigerant ...........................................294
Air pump .........................................................................239
Air recirculation ............................................................ 102
Airbag deactivation system ............................................ 53
Airbag OFF indicator lamp ...........................................222
Airbags .............................................................................. 56
Alarm system ............................................................. 35, 36
Anticorrosion/antifreeze .................... 181, 235, 293, 297
Antiglare night position ................................................. 71
Antilock brake system (ABS) ....................................... 201
LOW RANGE – ABS ..................................................202
Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................222
Antitheft alarm system ................................................... 35
Aquaplaning ................................................................... 178Ashtray
Center console, front ................................................ 118
Rear passenger compartment ................................. 118
Automatic central locking ..............................................32
Automatic transmission ................................................ 165
Emergency Operation ............................................... 172
Fluid level .................................................................. 234
Selector lever position .............................................. 168
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking 259
BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 53
Self-test ......................................................................... 53
BAS (Brake assist system) ............................................ 199
Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................221
Battery .............................................................................251
Battery recycling ...................................................... 252
Charge indicator lamp ............................................. 223
Battery, remote control ................................................. 270
Block heater .................................................................... 182
Blocking of rear door windows ....................................105
Brake assist system (BAS) ............................................ 199
Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................221